"Hello, Sesshomaru. I didn't know you were here." The boy shrugged.
"We just got here; my father wants to talk with your father." Karuku nodded. Sesshomaru frowned and poked her. "What's wrong with you?"
"I just... I don't know." Sesshomaru was still displaying his usual stoicism, but there was barely a hint of concern in his eyes. It was enough for Karuku to see that he was worried. She plastered a smile on her face. "Forget it. What's new?" Sesshomaru shrugged. "Well it's nearly lunchtime, so we should probably head back anyway." They tromped through the thick foliage (there was a path, but their way was shorter) and walked up to the stone village. At the end of the path stood a magnificent stone house, and in front of it stood three demons. They waved at Karuku and Sesshomaru, who waved back.
"Hello Sesshomaru," said Lady Kriva. Lord Kres inclined his head.
"Hello. Is everything okay?" The Lady smiled at him. "Of course it is. Karuku why don't you and Sesshomaru go in the house and wait for us? Lunch will be ready soon." Karuku slipped past her father, who gave her a small hug before letting them into the house. The door slid shut behind them and Karuku automatically headed for her work station.
"Anything new?" asked Sesshomaru. He was uncomfortable at his friend's sudden need for silence; he was used to her chattering away so he didn't need to.
"Yeah, actually." Karuku picked up a small jar and shook it so the silver powder inside shone in the light. "This is actually a kind of metal. When it's released into the air it solidifies and becomes very sharp; mother says that it is sometimes used to make weapons."
"Why only sometimes?" asked Sesshomaru, a hint of intrigue in his voice.
"The weapons are never very strong. All you have to do is cut off the oxygen somehow and it becomes a permanent liquid. Many people used to make daggers and swords out of it, but they don't anymore because it's so unreliable." Sesshomaru shrugged.
"I prefer fangs." Karuku grinned, something he had not seen her do all day. Sesshomaru took the jar out of her hands to study it more closely, but just as it switched to his grip the front door swung open with a loud "BANG!" Sesshomaru turned in surprise and his still outstretched hand slammed into the wall. It didn't hurt him at all, but the jar slipped from his fingers.
"Watch out!" cried Karuku. The moment the jar fractured the powder inside chose to solidify and shoot out past Sesshomaru's ear. Lady Kriva, Lord Kres, and Inutaisho immediately heard the sound of breaking glass followed by hysterical laughter. When they entered Karuku's workroom they found her grasping a chair trying to catch her breath, while Sesshomaru stared in disbelief at the right side of his hair. It didn't even reach his shoulder. All three adults did their best to smother their laughter. Karuku quickly caught her breath and explained how it was not her fault.
"I'm very very sorry about it, and I'll even it out if you want, Sesshomaru." Sesshomaru clearly did not like this idea, but he didn't like the idea of having half his hair twice as short as the other half either. He was forced to trust Karuku with the scissors. She kept smiling as she snipped away at his hair, and when she was done handed him a mirror.
"Thanks Karuku," he said, his voice laced with relief. Sesshomaru stood and pushed away his chair, but his eyes lit with surprise as Karuku wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug.
"Thanks for making me laugh again, Sesshomaru," she whispered, her voice slightly muffled. He stood there feeling awkward for a moment before lightly hugging her back. She released him and grinned up at him. "Time to eat!" she chanted, and skipped out to the kitchen. Sesshomaru followed, nervously feeling his new haircut.
"Father?" Inutaisho looked down at his son as they left the village.
"Yes?"
"Was it Karuku's birthday or something?" Inutaisho frowned.
"Why would you think that?"
"She just seemed…older." Sesshomaru turned and looked back at his friend. She waved at him and he gave her a small wave back.
"I suppose she was," said Inutaisho, a faint worried look in his eyes. Sesshomaru shrugged and returned his eyes to the path. "I'm glad you were worried." Now the look in his father's eyes was mischievous, like Karaku's. It actually made Sesshomaru smile.